by Griff Hosker
We ate, drank and then spoke of the war which was imminent. When we went outside I saw that the sun had passed its zenith. “I like this not, Bjorn. Petr should have returned. Ada, watch William for me. We will ride and see if we can find Petr.”
William looked as though he was going to argue. Ada had three children of her own and knew how to handle them. “Master William all of us obey your father and you are not an exception. Come you shall help me make a new batch of ale. You can help my children.”
Bjorn said, “I will come with you for I know the rough direction Petr would have taken.”
We rode along a greenway which was obviously well used for in places it was bare earth. We all rode with helmets hung from our saddles for we wished to be able to hear as well as see. The clash of steel and the cry appeared to come from some way ahead of us but we knew it spelled danger. Drawing Long Sword, I dug my heels into Gilles and my horse opened his legs. The sounds of battle became more obvious as we neared the conflict. Gilles leapt over the body of a dead warrior. The man wore no mail but he had a helmet and a shield. A bent sword lay close by.
I announced our arrival to alert Petr, “Clan of the Horse!” A warrior lunged at me with a spear. I jerked Gilles’ head around as I slashed down with my sword. I caught his spear and then his arm. Blood spurted and he ran back into the shelter of the trees. There were horses milling around. Some had riders and some did not. I recognised Petr and Arne. They were to my left but the ones to my right, who were fighting each other, I did not. I did not know who to fight.
Petr shouted, “Lord, the enemy have blue shields or red shields!”
I wheeled Gilles and headed into the fray. I saw that there were devices painted on the shields. Two men with red shields were attacking a bearded warrior who had lost his helmet. Gilles ploughed towards them. One began to turn which allowed the bearded warrior to gain the upper hand. I swung my sword from behind me. I hit the red shield and knocked the warrior from his saddle. He was not using stiraps. As the bearded warrior smashed his sword through the helmet of the man he was fighting the remaining red and blue shields decided to flee. The arrows from Petr and his men took out another three before they headed into the woods. Bjorn led my hearth weru after them.
The bearded warrior looked around for more enemies. When he saw none he smiled, “I thank you, mighty warrior. Had you not come to my aid then I might have followed my companions.” He waved an arm at four bodies lying close by him. “I am Fulk le Roux son of Ingelger, Count of Anjou.”
“And I am Lord Göngu-Hrólfr Rognvaldson, Lord of Rouen.”
His eyes widened, “You are a Viking! Yet you ride a horse like a Frank!” I smiled. Petr and the others led their horses from the woods. Fulk looked at them, “I thank you for your arrows. I would have perished with my men.”
Petr nodded. “It was when we heard them speaking Breton that we knew we had to aid you. We fight Bretons. We did not know you.”
My men returned. I gestured at the bodies of his comrades. “Fulk do you wish to bury your men here or at Bjorn’s settlement down the road?”
“Not here, lord, for I fear that animals would disturb them.”
“Put the bodies on the horses and take anything of value from the enemy dead. I would know who they are.”
“I can tell you that, lord. They are Bretons sent by King Alan. My father died last year and the Breton king tried to take over Anjou. We fought him and lost. I was sent by my mother to seek help from King Charles. They caught up with us yesterday. I fear I have lost the warriors with whom I grew up.”
“Fear not. We can get you to Paris safely but it will be by river.”
As we rode the few miles to Evreux I learned that it was Fulk’s mother who was well connected. She was related to the King of the Franks. We buried the Count’s dead and headed back to Rouen. I was anxious to be within my own walls by nightfall. I discovered that Fulk’s father was not a great warrior but Fulk, although only twenty, was. However, he needed the guidance of an older man. I told him of the battles we had had. He was a sensible young man and I knew he was absorbing all that I told him. We reached the ferry just after dusk. I knew now that the Norns had been spinning. Anjou fought the Bretons. I had an ally. The fact that he had been defeated by the Bretons did not matter. So long as he was a thorn in the side of King Alan he would make the Breton leader look over his shoulder.
My wife was unwell and did not join us when we ate. Although Fulk was disappointed it allowed us to get to know each other a little better. William was so tired that he lasted but half an hour before he fell asleep and was whisked off to bed. Fulk, Padraig and my oathsworn were able to enjoy both the wine and the conversation.
“I though all Vikings were barbarians.” Fulk held up the wine, “But I can see that you are not.”
Æbbi Bonecrusher laughed, “My lord we can be barbarians but we have learned to appreciate some of the finer things in life.”
“And can you defeat the Bretons?”
I would not confide in the young man for I did not know him well enough but I gave him hope. “We have beaten them before and we will do so again but, for the moment we farm and we prepare for war.” He nodded. “Tomorrow we will secure you a berth on a ship heading upriver. When you see the King, you might tell him that I have forestalled an attempt by the son of the Duke of Frisia to attack Paris. Tell him that I still honour our side of the treaty.” He took my words at face value but there was a hidden message for the Frankish king. If I chose to break the treaty because of his duplicity then he would be the one to suffer.
There were ships heading upstream and they were tied up at the wharf. Many captains liked to break their journey at Rouen. We were safe and we had good ale. It was easy to arrange a berth for Fulk. “If you return by river then stay with me again. I would have further conference with you.”
He shook his head. “I will have an escort from King Charles and we can head further east, towards Burgundy. I had thought we had left in secret. Obviously, we were followed. King Alan has spies.”
After he had gone I asked Padraig. “How is Godwin?”
“He is healing. The salve I use works but it is a slow process.”
“And is he still belligerent?”
“No, less each day. I think speaking with Egil helps. They get on.”
“Is Egil with him now?”
“No lord. I thought he was with you. He disappeared not long after you left yesterday.”
A chill ran up my spine. “And Æðelwald of Remisgat?”
Padraig smiled, “He left to visit a brother in a monastery to the north. He had word that the man was sick.”
That did not fill me with joy. Egil had followed the priest. Was my standard bearer in danger? I told Padraig what I had asked Egil to do. “Lord, if you suspected Æðelwald of Remisgat was conspiring with priests then why not confide in me?”
I stared at him, “Padraig I trust you in all things save one. You are both priests. Over the last years did you notice the visits from priests?”
He shook his head, “I just thought… you are right lord. Perhaps your trust in me is misplaced.”
“There is nothing wrong with the trust I have in you. It is just that you are blinded by the church in certain matters. I will take men and look for Egil.”
I summoned ten men and we prepared our horses. We were just a mile north of my walls when we discovered Egil. I would not have recognised him for he wore an old cloak with a hood and an archer’s cap. I reined in. “Out for a ride, my lord?”
I put my arm down to haul him up. As I did so I said, “No, we were looking for a young fool! Why did you follow Æðelwald of Remisgat?”
“Because you asked me to.”
“I said to follow the men. This priest is dangerous. However, I thank you. What did you discover?”
“He went to a church at Bois-Guilbert. He stayed the night. There were horsemen there. They spoke Frankish. Two left a short time after they met with Æðelwald of Remis
gat and they headed east. When I woke this morning, the other horsemen had gone. I left when the priest did but I ran ahead so that he would not know I followed him.”
“You have done well.”
“What does this mean, lord?”
“It means, Harold Strong Arm, that the King of the Franks is playing a dangerous game. When we go to war with the Bretons we cannot take our full force. I will have to leave most of the men to guard my walls. Æðelwald of Remisgat obviously thought my ride yesterday heralded the beginning of the offensive. He has made a grave error. Let us hope that we can exploit it.”
Fulk would be in Paris within a day. My message would get to the King. The Bretons were a different matter. Were they getting their information from the same source? I had been too keen to live in peace. The siege of Paris had made me complacent.
William was waiting for me when we returned, “We have not practised for days! I am keen to see if I can beat Egil with the hoop game.”
I knew that Egil would be tired but he grinned and threw off his cloak, “Come then, Master William, let us see.”
My men took Gilles to the stable and I sat to watch. I saw Æðelwald of Remisgat as he entered my gate. He saw me and I saw the surprise on his face. He had thought to betray me but, by accident, I had tricked him.
That evening my wife surprised me by dining with me. She was friendly and almost affectionate. “I am sorry I have kept apart, my love, but I was worried that I might lose another child. I am keen for this one to be born healthy.”
“As am I. And you have been alone for I hear that Æðelwald of Remisgat was also absent from Rouen?”
“Was he? I did not notice.” I heard and saw the lie. “And where were you, my lord? William said you visited Vikings.”
I laughed, “As all of my men are Vikings that is not a surprise. We visited with Erik and Bjorn. I wanted to ensure that we had enough horses and we do. Evreux is also well defended.”
The meal was almost pleasant except that I knew she was gathering information to use against me. I had to make certain that I fed her that which would not hurt us. When she retired she said, “Lord, if you do not mind I would sleep alone again tonight.” As I had not lain with her for a month that was hardly a surprise. “I have to rise frequently to make water.”
“I am keen for this child to be born, my love, so that we can return to a normal life.”
She pecked at my cheek. “All will be normal soon enough.”
Perhaps I was over thinking things but her words seemed to have a veiled threat about them.
The next day Egil reported that another priest had come to Æðelwald of Remisgat but he had come from south of the river. I decided that I would confront the priest when he left. Baldir was the captain of the guard at the river gate. “When the priest who arrived this morning tries to leave, hold him here. I would like to question him.”
“Did we do wrong to allow him in, my lord?”
I shook my head, “No. But I need to know whence he came. He may have knowledge which is of use to us.”
It was not until late in the afternoon that a sentry summoned me. Æbbi Bonecrusher came with me. I saw that the priest was not a bare foot friar. He had good leather boots. And although he was cloaked it was a good cloak he wore. The large cross around his neck was ostentatious. It was there for effect. As soon as he spoke I became suspicious.
“Have I committed a crime, lord, that you bar me from leaving?”
“No Brother…?”
“Brother Jean.”
“I am Lord of Rouen and I would know who comes and goes in my town.”
“I have travelled here before and I have not been stopped.”
“Then I am eager to know what draws such a well-dressed priest to my home.” I saw in his face that he had not wished to give me so much information. “Perhaps our church is of interest to you. Or is it our defences? I detect a Breton twang to your words. Are you a spy?”
He now began to panic. “Of course not, lord. Æðelwald of Remisgat is a wise and learned man. He has many books and I often come to confer with him.”
“And where do you go when you leave here?”
The hesitation in his words told me that he was preparing a falsehood. When he answered me, “Dreux,” then I knew that he lied.
I feigned belief, “That is a long way from here. You have a difficult journey ahead of you. I wish you well, brother.”
When he had boarded the ferry Æbbi Bonecrusher said, “Why let him go, lord? He is the spy. We have the proof.”
“And what can he have learned? That I rode to Montfort and Evreux? That we prepare for war? He knows not when we strike. What he has learned is that I am suspicious. We will not see this spy again. The next priest who comes to see Æðelwald will be detained and he will be questioned.”
Once again, the Norns were spinning. The next day a rider came from Ubba Long Cheek, Valognes was under attack! He needed my help.
Chapter 8
I could not take my whole army. King Charles the Fat was planning something. The aged king was trying to save his crown and I thought that we might be the prize he sought. I took my hearth weru. We were mounted and we could pick up more men at Montfort. If we changed horses at Lisieux and rode hard then we could spend the night at Caen. That would enable me to bring men from Bergil and Sven Blue Cheek. Sámr Oakheart at Bayeux would provide the rest. I assumed that Finnbjǫrn and Ragnar the Resolute would have gone to Ubba’s aid.
“Padraig, I leave you in command here. You have good men.”
“But I am no warrior!”
“Baldir can command the warriors but it is the day to day decisions which you will make.” I handed him my seal. “And I would have you watch my son too.”
He nodded, “I will do my best, lord.”
We had good horses and we reached Montfort in a bare couple of hours. The horses managed a rest while Bagsecg summoned the forty riders who lived nearby. It was not enough but it would have to do. We reached Lisieux in the early afternoon. Our horses were tired. Gilles had no choice. No other beast could carry me but the others all exchanged horses. Bergil had more men. He brought twenty horsemen and his lieutenant, Einar Shield Brother, would bring a hundred warriors by foot. We rode for Caen and reached it after dark. I walked the last mile for Gilles was weary. It meant Egil and I were the last ones inside Caen’s walls. Sven Blue Cheek was the most organised of my lords and by the time I reached him the horses had been stabled and food prepared.
“We have been caught unawares then, lord.” he said it calmly. It took much to panic Sven.
I nodded, “My plans assumed that we would have more time. Ubba has made a mistake. He should have sent to one of you first.”
“There might have been a reason.”
Just then one of the sentries hurried in. “Sorry lord but there is a rider from Lord Sámr. There has been a battle.”
“Send him in.”
I knew it was a disaster before he spoke. It was not his dishevelled and dirty look nor even the hang dog expression on his face, it was the hairs on the back of my neck. The spirits were talking to me. My grandfather was in the room and he was giving me warning of impending doom.
He dropped to one knee, “Lord Göngu-Hrólfr Rognvaldson, Lord Sámr sent me. He gave me this.” He handed me the coin. I nodded. “The Bretons came and attacked Lord Ubba’s stronghold. He sent a message to you and to the other lords in the Cotentin. The men of the Haugr and Ċiriċeburh marched to his aid.”
“Not Lord Sámr?”
“He did not send to Lord Sámr. We heard of the battle and the attack from the survivors who fled to Bayeux. My lord’s town is under siege. I barely made it out. The enemy surround it.”
Sven could hear that the man’s voice was about to break, “Fetch this warrior ale.” He looked at me, “If they fled to Bayeux then it may mean that Carentan has fallen too.”
I shook my head, “Saxbjǫrn had prepared for a siege. He knew he did not have enough men t
o fight an enemy but he had enough men to defend. He has Franks inside his walls who can defend. They may be hungry but they will be there when we arrive.” The man had drunk and looked a little better. “Go on.”
“This is what we were told lord by the first men who fled inside our walls.” I nodded. What he meant was that the ones who arrived first had fled the field first. They would not know the outcome. “When the two lords came to the aid of Ubba Long Cheek the Bretons fell back and the three lords followed. The Bretons avoided Carentan and the lords thought that they had the enemy on the run for they outnumbered them. When they reached Saint-Lô, they found it was a trap. King Alan brought large numbers of men from the west and they broke the three lords’ shield walls. They fled to our town.”
I shook my head, “My lords do not lack courage.”
Sven said, “Just common sense.”
“It is my fault. We have let the use of horses diminish in the west. Only Erik and Bagsecg here have horses in any numbers. Horsemen could have kept closer to the enemy as they fell back. They could have scouted and discovered where the enemy were. This changes our plans. Sven, I want you to wait here for Bergil’s men. I will go ahead with the horsemen that we have. We cannot fight a battle but we can give hope to Sámr and show that we have not forgotten him. We will have sixty men who can fight on foot and Bagsecg’s forty can keep watch on the enemy horse.”
Sven said, “My walls are solid. I have men who can defend the walls. We will empty Caen of warriors. You will find more warriors in the farms twixt here and Bayeux.”
“Then we will warn them that they will need to join you.” I shook my head. “I should have sent for Bjorn the Brave and his men. They have the best of archers.”
Æbbi Bonecrusher shook his head, “Looking back is easy lord and besides we need Bjorn to watch for the Franks. He guards the back door to Rouen.”
Æbbi was right but it did not help me. I had been outwitted again and I had let down my grandfather.
Gilles was better for a good night’s rest and grain. We would have another hard ride. Egil and Æbbi Bonecrusher flanked Bagsecg and Bergil. “Egil, you will need to stay as close to me as Gilles’ tail. I had thought to have trained you more before our first battle but I fear that you will have to learn while we fight. Men will watch our new standard.”